An Introduction to Practical Laboratory Optics

by John F. James

Aimed at students taking laboratory courses in experimental optics, this book introduces readers to optical instruments and their uses. The book explains the basic operation of lenses, mirrors, telescopes in the laboratory and under field conditions, how to use optical instruments to their maximum potential and how to keep them in working order. It gives an account of the laws of geometrical optics which govern the design, layout and working of optical instruments. The book describes the interactions of polarised light with matter and the instruments and devices derived from this, and discusses the choice of spectrometers and detectors for various spectral regions, with particular attention to CCD cameras. The emphasis throughout is on description, with mathematical precision confined to the appendices, which explain the ray transfer matrix and outline the Seidel theory of optical aberrations. The appendices also introduce Fourier methods in optics and Fourier transform infra-red spectrometry.

196 pages, Hardcover

First published August 31, 2014

Reviews

[Brady · Rating 4 out of 5]

a great handbook for when you're working on a project and run into a topic you're unfamiliar with or need a decent review on. a compact book that is valuable on any laboratory bookshelf. a great quick reference.